Travelling On

starnac

I echo the above comments. If you could help you would. You can't in this instance so cleaning is a very productive distraction. Hope all health issues resolve themselves quickly.

Karmacat

Thank you all.  That's really kind: almost every family member still in this country (ie not the French lot, or the Irish lot) is ill - a distraction is *exactly* what I need, it's true.  And I would help directly if I could, that's true too.  

Madvix, its the mum that's in hospital, she has pre-existing health issues too, it's all a bit bad, but I don't think *she* seems to have covid, so that's something.  We'll see.

apple_muncher

You definitely need a distraction, even if it is cleaning mouldy shelves! Enjoy 🤣🤣🤣!

Karmacat

🤣🤣🤣 That's very good, apple!

Shelves are as clean as they're going to get, the remnants of the bleach are safe once dried (cat is only arriving on Sunday) vinegar is safe now, of course, all good.  Haven't used sealant against wherever the ants came in, but I have blocked up a hole of maybe 3 square inches, which went through to the insides of the house.  I may have to use a saw on one of the shelves that's a very tight fit - I'm all about air circulation now  

Taking a break now - all this physical work makes me hungry 🤣 and I'll put it all back together afterwards.  Very pleased now!

This is the last bank holiday day, so I'll leave finances till tomorrow.  Today, Christmas admin (some Christmas cards arrived!).

badmemory

I hate ants, they get everywhere.  They came in mine through the meter cupboard, so where the gas & power line came in.  I used powder all over it & have noted to do it every spring.  I did think of using spray but decided maybe spray & electrics might not be a good mix.  Previously they came in through a tiny corner in the double glazed front door.  Fixed by spray initially & then blue (well white) tack blocking the gap.  It seems I have ants nests in the front garden, not that I can find them, but they come in when they are disturbed.  Even if I could find them I couldn't destroy them.  They come in my house & they are fair game & hopefully I can send them in another direction, but outside is their territory.  After all I wouldn't like some giant to come along & destroy my home would I?

Karmacat

I'm a bit the same, badmemory - my garden, front and back, is riddled with ants - it's one reason I don't really harvest my blackcurrant bush, everything is covered with them, its very offputting.  I do try to control them once they get to the house wall, actually, but they're part of the ecology and not really doing me any harm out there  

The 3rd shelf is going to have to be cut down, I'd have to force it, so I'll take it out into the garden to saw it.  I'm finding it hard to think about anything except getting that pantry back together again.  The southern contingent of my family is okay, even if not great, don't know about the northern contingent, I'm sure I'd be contacted if there was really bad news.  I think I'm sure!

Later on, I'm definitely going to have some cake 🍰  that may just be microwave cake, because of all the pantry effort, but there *will* be cake  

themadvix

Cake sounds good! Definitely do that.

Karmacat

Will do!

All done!  Or rather, the top two shelves are back and restocked, the 3rd is slightly cut down and then I had to disinfect it, I'd put it on a surface used by wild birds 🙄  so that and the floor will need to dry, then the stuff that I've crammed onto the kitchen table will easily fit there.  Massive decluttering has gone really well, though anything sharp will temporarily leave the pantry for a room upstairs behind a shut door - I know what cats are like!

Arthritis is really playing up now, so I've stopped.  I'm still admiring the pantry when I walk past, though 🤣

beanielou

Great result 

greent

You've done really well with all of that 👏  ...... but did you also manage any cake?? 🍰 x